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Vladimir Mau is Doctor of Economics, Professor, PhD, Honored Economist of the Russian Federation. Born on 29 December 1959 in Moscow, he graduated from the Moscow Institute of National Economy in 1981. Since 1991 he participated in the development and implementation of economic reforms in Russia, including working as Advisor to the Chairman of the Russian Government from 1992-1993. From 1997-2002 Mau was the Head of the Working Center for Economic Reforms of the Russian Government. In 2002, he became the Rector of the Academy of National Economy of the Russian Government, and in 2010 the Rector of the newly formed the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Rector Mau is a renowned expert in the field of economic theory, the history of economic thought and national economy. He is the author of 25 monographs, books and textbooks published in Russia and the UK, as well as more than 600 other works. The main results of his research focus on economic history and the history of economic thought in Russia and the USSR; the theory and history of economic policy; economic transformation and economic reforms. Rector Mau is a member of Economic Council of the President of Russian Federation. He is and also a chairman of the Expert Board under the Government Commission for Economic Development and Integration, and member of several governmental commissions and committees.

Born March 21, 1957 in Leningrad. 1979 – graduated from Leningrad State University (Department of Mathematics and Mechanics) specializing in Applied Mathematics. 1979–1988 – Research Assistant, Junior Scientific Researcher, Scientific Researcher of the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 1986 – successfully defended his Candidate of Sciences thesis in Physics and Mathematics, USSR Academy of Sciences. 1984–1995 – Lecturer, Associate Professor of the Department of Computational Mathematics at Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, Faculty of Physics and Mechanics. 1988–1992 – Senior Scientist of the Leningrad Institute for Informatics and Automation of the USSR Academy of Sciences. 1991–1995 – Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer of AstroSoft Company, St. Petersburg. 1995–1996 – Consultant of Microsoft Consulting Services, Microsoft Middle East (Dubai). 1996–1997 – Senior Consultant / Head of Practice, Microsoft Consulting Services, Microsoft Eastern Europe. 1997–1999 – Head of Accounts Department, Microsoft Representative Office in Russia, Microsoft Eastern Europe. 1999–2003 – University Relations Manager, Microsoft Research Lab (UK). 2003–2005 – Head of Government Relations, Microsoft Representative Office in Russia, Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe. 2005–2007 – Chief Strategy Officer, Cabinet of the Chairman of Microsoft in Russia and CIS Countries, Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe. 2007–2009 – General Director of Software Development Centre of EMC Corporation in St. Petersburg. Since April 2009, he has held the position of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of RVC OJSC.

Israel’s 10th Prime Minister and Minister of Defense from 1999 to 2001. Barak recently served as Israel’s Minister of Defense for the second time from June 2007 till March 2013. Previous he served as Minister of Interior and then as Foreign Minister under Prime Minister Rabin and Prime Minister Peres in the years 1995-1996. With his service as the Israel Defense Forces’ Chief of the General Staff from 1991 to 1995, Lt. General Barak completed a 36-year military career as the most decorated soldier in the history of the IDF. Barak commanded special forces elite units, as well as armored divisions. He headed the R&D and Planning Branch of the Israel Defense Forces and later served as Director of Military Intelligence, OC Central Command and Deputy Chief of Staff. He personally headed several of the most daring counter-terror special operations in the history of Israel and was a key architect of the June 1976 Entebbe Operation rescuing hijacked passengers. Barak led Israel out of a prolonged recession into an economic boom, with 5.9% annual growth, record Foreign Dirct Investment, near-zero inflation, a halved deficit and significantly decreased external debt. The core of the Barak government's efforts was devoted to the peace process. In May 2000, he ordered the withdrawal of the IDF from southern Lebanon, ending 18 tragic and bloody years of Israel's presence there. He led far-reaching efforts to negotiate peace agreements, first with Syria and later with the Palestinian Authority, with the active participation of President Bill Clinton and his administration. These negotiations did not result in the breakthroughs necessary to conclude final agreements. He received a B.Sc. degree in mathematics and physics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1968, and an M.Sc. in economic engineering systems from Stanford University, California, in 1978. After leaving government in March 2013, Barak established his own group “Ergo Ltd.", focused on two main areas: investments in Cyber Security and Homeland Security and consulting on Geopolitics.

Dr. Xiang Bing is the Founding Dean and a Professor of Chinese Business and Globalization at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB), a leading business school in China. Established in November 2002, CKGSB is China’s first privately funded and faculty-governed business school. Dr. Xiang’s research interests include the relationship between state and business, the reform of state-owned enterprises, innovation and the role of the private sector in China. He is a leading authority on Chinese business, innovations in China, the globalization of Chinese companies and the global implications of the transformation of China. His writings and cases on these subjects are considered among the most influential in China. He is an independent board member of a number of companies listed in Hong Kong, mainland China and the US. He also serves as a member of the boards of trustees for The United Way Worldwide (US) and for Asia House (UK), as well as a member of the International Advisory Council of FDC business school in Brazil. He has worked with many leading companies to offer consulting and training in China and globally. These companies include China Mobile, China Telecom, Huawei Technologies, TCL, Midea, Petro China, CNOOC, IBM (China), GE (China), Siemens (China), Goldman Sachs (Asia), Clifford Chance, Cummins, DFS, Lenovo, Bank of China and China Railway Construction Corporation.

Mr. Pekka A. Viljakainen was born in Finland 1972. He studied engineering at the University of Technology in Lappeenranta. Thanks to his technical background, Mr. Viljakainen has for 25 years worked as an ambassador between business executives and technology teams. He started as an entrepreneur in 1986, by establishing Oy Visual Systems Ltd. (1986-2004). His company was merged with TietoEnator in 2000. Mr. Viljakainen is widely known by his nickname, Bulldozer. The nickname was earned by his reputation and track record for handling very complex governance and political topics inside large international organizations. During his corporate carrier he acted as trusted advisor for CEO’s and chairman’s specializing for the transformation related to enterprise digitalization and HR. After 26 years of his active Visual Systems-Tieto carrier, he left from operative roles on 2011 and focused to his non-profit leadership education project called www.nofear-community.com . Because of this he has been visiting speaker and advisor for several international corporations and faculties (like IMD Business School). In 2012 Mr Viljakainen was invited to act as senior advisor for the president of Skolkovo Foundation. Since that he has been acted as a founder and advisor for several nationwide entrepreneurship programs in Russian Federation. Russian StartupTour 2013-2014 (16 + 28 Russian cities) and StartupVillage concepts has key elements of those actions. During those programs he has build a strong network of entrepreneurs, local governmental institutions as well as universities across Russia and abroad. Mr Viljakainen is the member of Strategic Board of the Russian Postal Service and Board of Directors of Soprano Communications. Mr Viljakainen is also known as investor, business angel and advisor for several high-tech companies. Those activities are handled thru his family investment office called www.Aii.fi He is also well known supporter and philanthropic for several areas related to education, classical music as well as several social projects. His hobbies are helicopter flying PPL(H), cross country skiing, weight lifting and triathlon.

The Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo). Doctor of Pedagogical Science, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, State Councilor of the Russian Federation of 1 class. State Awards The Medal of Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” II degree The order “For Merit to the Fatherland” IV degree Biography Born March 7, 1960 in Arzamas, Nizhny Novgorod Region Education Graduated from Arzamas State Pedagogical Institute (ASPI) named after A.P.Gaidar Professional Experience Adviser to the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Kiriyenko Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District (Privolzhsky). State Secretary- Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation. Head of the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Education and Science. Representative of the Legislative Assembly of the Penza Region in the Federation Council. By the Presidential Decree of 23 March 2015 was appointed as the Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation.

Born on July 17, 1949, in Leningrad (now St Petersburg). 1971 – graduated from Zhdanov Leningrad State University; Doctor of Physics and Mathematics. 1971-1991 – junior researcher, laboratory head, deputy director for research, leading researcher at the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, Leningrad. 1991-1993 – Vice President of Advanced Technology Centre, St Petersburg. 1994-2001 – Director of Regional Foundation for Scientific and Technological Development, St Petersburg. From 2000 – Chairman of the Academic Council of the Centre for Strategic Research North-West Foundation. 2001-2002 – Deputy Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. From June 2002 – First Deputy Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. From December 2003 – Acting Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. March 9, 2004 – appointed Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Since May 21, 2012 – Aide to the President of the Russian Federation. State award – Honorary Diploma of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Graduated from National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute” in 1983. During 15 years she worked in MGTS. From 1998 to 2003 she worked in “Personal Communications” (tradename "Mobile Network SONET"). From 2004 to 2007 – Head of Moscow Macroregion, MTS. From 2007 to 2008 – Chief Commercial Officer, AiRUnion. From 2010 to 2011 – Presidential Adviser TTK. From February 2011 – Vice-President, Head of Broadband Unit, TTK. In 2014 Svetlana Shamzon was ranked among the top 10 best telecommunications industry executives according to the Executives Rating by the Russian Managers Association and Kommersant publishing house.

Andrei Sharonov joined Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO in September 2013 as Dean, having left the position of Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Economic Policy in Moscow City Government.Born in 1964 in Ufa, Andrei Sharonov graduated as an engineer from Ufa State Aviation Technical University and as a lawyer from Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation; in 1994 obtained his PhD in Social Studies.From 1989 to 1991 a Member of the Soviet Parliament, Congress of People’s deputies of the USSR; till 1996 chaired the Russian Federal Committee (Ministry) on Youth Affairs.In 1996-2007 occupied the positions of Deputy Minister, State Secretary and First Deputy Minister at Economics Development Ministry of Russian Federation.In the period from 2007 till 2010, Managing Director and the Board of Directors’ Chairman for Troika Dialog (Private Investment Company).Board Member for OJSC NOVATEK, ALROSA Group, Bank of Moscow OJSC, OJSC Sovcomflot, MC NefteTransService LLC and JSC Eco-System Management Company.As of December 22, 2010, by appointment of Moscow City Mayor Decree, Andrei Sharonov served at Moscow City Government as Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Economic Policy in charge of budgeting, industrial and city business development, regional rate regulations as well as competition and public retail and procurement policy, trade and services.Since 2012, Andrei Sharonov is heading Executive Committees of Moscow Urban Forum and Open Innovations Forum.Andrei Sharonov received 2009 “Aristos” Awards as “Independent Director” and “Director of the Year”; the Person of the Year in Business Reputation for 2012.Andrei Sharonov was awarded with the Order of Honour and granted the title of “Honoured Economist of Russian Federation”.

Dr. Vladimir Vasilyev (born on April 1, 1951) has been the Rector of ITMO University since 1996 when the Conference of University Employees elected Dr. Vladimir Vasilyev as ITMO University Rector for the five-year term. He's been reelected four times, in 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016. He is an active corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Academy of Education. He’s been the head of the Council of St. Petersburg Rectors since 2004, vice president of the All-Russian Council of Rectors, and a member of the St. Petersburg Governor's Technical Council. After graduating from the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, in 1983, Dr. Vasilyev joined the Leningrad Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics, which later became ITMO University. In 1991 he became the head of the new department of Information Technologies. His leadership style and vision for innovation, multidisciplinary approach and the importance of partnerships with the industry earned him a prominent position within the university and the scientific community in Russia and beyond. In his capacity as the Rector, he continues to promote those values through creating a unique environment for cutting edge research, international collaboration and education for the modern world. Dr. Vasilyev is a prominent scientist in the fields of computer telecommunications and mathematical modeling of information systems and multifunctional equipment complexes. He is one of the creators of Russia’s joint scientific educational information environment and the “Electronic Russia” program. Dr. Vasilyev is a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the 2003 and 2005 President of the Russian Federation Award for Excellence in Education and the 2000 and 2008 Government of the Russian Federation Award for Excellence in Education. He is the Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation (2002), Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Russian Federation (2010), and the recipient of Golden Medal of the Russian Academy of Education “For Scientific Achievements” (2011).

Born July 4, 1976. Education: 1997 Plekhanov Russian Economic Academy, major: Finance and Credit. 2002 Russian State Social University, major: Jurisprudence. 2005 Degree: Doctor of Economic Sciences. 2014 Associate Professorship. Full Member, Russian Association for the Advancement of Science. Career: 1999 Lead Specialist, Tax Planning Division, Trust and Investment Bank JSCB. 1999–2004 Tax Issues Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditing CJSC. 2004–2005 Vice President, Gazprombank JSB. 2005–2006 Executive Adviser, Raiffeisenbank Austria CJSC. 2006–2010 Director, Kuban Branch, Raiffeisenbank CJSC. 2010 Advisor to the Chairman of the Board, Regional Development Board, Raiffeisenbank CJSC. 2010–2013 Director, Branch Relations Office, Central Office, Sberbank of Russia OJSC. 2013 First Vice President, Sberbank Private Pension Fund. Public Activity: EC member under the Russian government. EC Chairman of Pension Funds and Pension Savings Investment, State Duma Committee on Financial Markets. Board Member, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. Board Member, Strategic Development Board, Russian Post FSUE. Branch Chairman, Commission on Business Education, Managers Association. Director, Expert Committee on Vocational Education and Training, Business Russia LLC. Member, Coordinating Council, Association of Russian Universities.

Oleg Kharkhordin is a graduate of the Department of Economics, Leningrad State University (1985). He studied for his doctorate at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations, USSR Academy of Sciences, and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a PhD in Political Science (1996). Oleg Kharkhordin was a member of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies (1996–1998). He also taught as a visiting professor at the Department of Political Science at Yale University (2002), at the Department of Government at Harvard University (2002–2003), and at Sciences Po, Paris (2005, 2006, 2008). Oleg Kharkhordin is a member of the Presidential Council for Science and Education.